IPL

SPONSORED AD

Saturday, 22 March 2014

The Shikha Pandey-led attack bowled India Women to a 26-run win against
Ireland Women at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protisthan No.4 Ground in
their second warm-up match ahead of the 2014 Women's World T20. An
unbeaten half-century by Punam Raut and 42 by Mithali Raj helped India
Women to 148 for four after being asked to bat first by Ireland. Pandey
then pumped the breaks on Ireland, and finished with figures of three
for 24. The rest of the bowling attack then kept Ireland down to 122 for
nine in their unsuccessful attempt of chasing down the 149-run target. (Also Read: Report: New Zealand vs India (Women), WT20 Warm-up, 2014)

Clare
Shillington and Emma Flanagan had added 61 runs before the latter
retired at the end of 11 overs. With her team comfortably placed,
Shillington, who was the dominant partner in the opening stand, looked
to take the innings forward with Melissa Scott-Hayward. However, 10 runs
later, the opener was sent back by Pandey, three short of her
half-century. The breakthrough triggered a collapse, which tipped the
balance in India's favour. Couple of overs later, Poonam Yadav struck to
remove Cecelia Joyce, while Pandey dealt a double-blow in the next. She
dismissed Scott-Hayward and Isobel Joyce to leave Ireland on 90 for
five. In the following over, Soniya Dabir claimed Elena Tice and
Jennifer Gary to reduce the opposition to 94 for seven. M Waldron was
the next to be sent back by S Naidu, while E Richardson was run out in
the last over with the score on 115. By then, India were firmly in the
driver's seat. (Also Read: Women's T20 World Cup 2014 - Schedule and Fixtures)

Earlier, the 59-run opening stand between Raj and
Smriti Mandhana helped lay a solid platform, before the former's
quick-fire knock was ended by Lucy O'Reilly. Tice then bowled the new
batter, Pandey, for one in the next over. However, Raut then came out
and anchored the innings for the remaining 11 overs with a 40-ball 50.

While
Raut looked to maintain the momentum set by Raj, she and Mandhana added
just 10 runs, before the opener was run out for 20 halfway through the
India innings. Dabir then joined Raut in adding 43 runs for the fourth
wicket, before being sent back Louise McCarthy. With a little over three
overs left, Harmanpreet Kaur came to the crease. Although she added
only five runs, she was involved in a 30-run unbroken stand with Raut
that helped India Women to 148 for four.